Number: RS22105
Title: Sentencing Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines: An Abridged Terrorism Related Example
Authors: Charles Doyle, American Law Division 
Abstract: Until recently, the federal Sentencing Guidelines determined the sentences meted out as punishment for most federal crimes. Then the Supreme Court declared that as a matter of constitutional necessity the Guidelines must be viewed as advisory rather than mandatory. The Guidelines remain a major consideration nevertheless. The Guidelines system is essentially a scorecard system. The purpose of this report is to give a bare bones description of the score-keeping process with a simple example of how it works in a terrorism related case.
Pages: 6
Date: April 5, 2005